Ways To Plan, Stay and Play For Your Next Disneyland Getaway
There’s never been a better time to visit Disneyland Resort when it comes to making unforgettable memories! Whether its experiencing Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge or holding out for the new Avengers Campus (opening this summer!) there’s something that’s sure to delight Disney-goers of all ages!
To help you plan your magical getaway, we here at MickeyBlog thought we’d share some of our favorite tips for planning your vacation and visiting the parks!
Let’s take a look!
PLAN
Be Sure To Download the Disneyland App – A must-have for Disneyland visitors, the app is filled with useful information and awesome tools to make your visit run smoothly. This includes attraction wait times, Disney FastPass return times, maps, entertainment guides and other awesome features. You can also use the app to purchase tickets, locate a character and even order food and drink using the Mobile Ordering option!
Disneyland Resort on Google Street View: This is still slightly under the radar. Did you know that you can now explore Disneyland Resort with a little help from Google Street View!? Disney parks collaborated with Google to launch a series of 360° panoramas at Disneyland, Disney California Adventure and the Downtown Disney District.
There’s a Wealth of Planning Info Online: We think that the best way to plan a Disneyland vacation is to work with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner like MickeyBlog who can help you get the most out of your visit! Another awesome alternative is to head online and download some of the awesome planning resources that Disney has to offer. These can be great for picking your perfect hotel, figuring out what attractions are a must-do for your family and finding your ideal places to dine.
Find out more here.
Dining Reservations- It pays to be an early bird when planning out your dining at Disneyland Resort. Guests can typically make your reservations up to 60 days in advance. This covers everything from special dining packages for “Fantasmic!” to one of the awesome character dining experiences like Goofy’s Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel!
Reservations can be made by contacting your travel agent or by ringing Disneyland directly at 714.781.DINE.
Follow Along on Social Media – You can keep up with the latest Disneyland news and updates by continuing to follow along with MickeyBlog! For planning, tips and fun facts we also suggest you follow @Disneyland on Twitter or on Facebook and Instagram. @DisneylandToday on Twitter is also a great resource for realtime information on what’s happening at Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, Downtown Disney and the resort hotels with live updates and answers.
STAY
Stay in the Magic- Disneyland Resort has three incredible onsite hotels each with something slightly different to offer. There’s the classic Disneyland Hotel, the luxurious Grand Californian (both of which are AAA Four Diamond properties and the always sunny Paradise Pier Hotel.
Extra Magic Hour
Guests staying at Disneyland Resort can get the exclusive benefit of Extra Magic Hour allowing you to enter both Disneyland Resort and Disney California Adventure an hour before the parks open to the public. Best of all you get to enjoy this perk each morning of your stay.
Get A Grand Hotel Experience When Staying Onsite
By choosing to stay onsite at Disneyland you are sure to enjoy a complete theme park experience like no other! At Disney’s Grand Californian the property went through an extensive renovation in 2017 with updated rooms, a new pool deck and more! With Downtown Disney District at your doorstep you can also enjoy the eclectic mix of entertainment, dining and shopping opportunities! From the moment you walk through the Arts & Craft lobby its easy to understand why the Grand Californian was named one of the Top Hotels in Southern California at the 30th annual Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards and in 2019 earned the coveted Forbes Travel Guide Star Award.
Properties With Character
At Disneyland Resort guests have the unique opportunity to share a meal, photo ops and a laugh or two with some of Disney’s favorite characters. Or adults may prefer a night on the town complete with dinner at one of Disneyland Resort’s several award-winning restaurants.
Unrivalled Customer Service
Guests who opt for one of Disneyland’s three onsite resorts are treated to exclusive conveniences throughout your stay. This includes a Key to the Magic card which you can use to charge meals and merch to your guest room. You can also have any items your purchase at Downtown Disney or the theme parks shipped right to your guest room.
Multi-generational Travel & Large Parties
Whether you’re are planning a grand gathering with you whole family, a reunion or a special celebration, the hotels at Disneyland are perfect for multi-generational parties and large groups. All three properties offer suites at each hotel that sleep parties of 6 or 8 and some even connect to allow for larger areas!
PLAY
Disney FASTPASS Service
Disney FASTPASS helps guests maximize their time in the park by reserving a specific time window to enjoy their favorite attractions. Guests showing up at the return time will enjoy shorter lines reserved for FASTPASS holders. Disney FASTPASS tickets should be picked up in the morning especially for favorite attractions such as Radiator Springs Racers.
Disney MaxPass
Take advantage of this service that allows guests to reserve digital Disney FastPasses from your mobile device using the Disneyland App! MaxPass also gives users the opportunity to download, save and share PhotoPass photos captured during your visit!. Both services can be purchased per day or length of stay.
Disney PhotoPass Service
Preserve those Disneyland memories with the resort’s incredible team of PhotoPass photographers who are on hand to capture shots of you with characters, at special dining locations and more! You can purchase and link photos using the Disneyland app.
Play Disney Parks Mobile App
This awesome app allows families and guests to interact with each other and your surroundings at the theme parks, creating unique experiences and activities that bring environments to life. There’s also group play that enables everyone to join in on the fun. Guests can turn wait time into play time at select attraction queues, earn, collect and share uniquely themed digital achievements, test your knowledge of Disney trivia and listen to the music and sounds of Disney parks through curated Apple Music playlists.
“A Walk in Walt’s Footsteps” Tour
Guests may follow in the footsteps of the man whose vision and creativity brought Disneyland park to life, Walt Disney. This 3 ½-hour guided tour covers the life of Walt Disney and stories behind the magic of Disneyland. To book this, or other, tours offered by Disneyland Resort, call (714) 781-TOUR (8687).
Portable Phone Charging Systems Kiosks
Guests recharge their batteries without missing any of the fun by using a convenient portable battery set that can be purchased from kiosk locations throughout the resort. When the portable battery runs out, guests may swap it for a fully charged replacement at any kiosk at no extra cost.
Parent “Rider Switch”
Disneyland Resort’s flexible “rider switch” policy provides both parents with an opportunity to enjoy their favorite attractions without double the wait. A parent who waits with a young child while the other parent rides the attraction may board the ride with minimal wait time once the first parent exits.
Enjoy the Shows and Entertainment
There’s a multiple of awesome entertainment options to enjoy. (Be sure to pick-up an entertainment guide at the main entrance gate and at Guest Relations centers). You’ll find a wide array of awesome offerings from the NEW “Magic Happens” parade (Disneyland), and shows such as “Disney Junior Dance Party!” (Disney California Adventure) and “Mickey and the Magical Map” (Disneyland). Fans of Disney’s global film phenomenon, “Frozen”, will find the dazzling theatrical interpretation “Frozen – Live at the Hyperion Theater” at Disney California Adventure. Guests also may encounter performers and singers as they stroll through the parks, including the Dapper Dans at Disneyland, and Five and Dime at Disney California Adventure.
Projection Shows and Spectacular Fireworks
State-of-the-art projection shows and fireworks illuminate the sky above Disneyland park on select nights, choreographed to timeless music and with surprise appearances by some classic Disney characters. Viewing locations are throughout Disneyland and top spots include: along Main Street, U.S.A., in front of “it’s a small world” in Fantasyland and along the Rivers of America in Frontierland.
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Find articles like this helpful? Then why not consider working with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner? As an agent with MickeyTravels, I’ll be on hand to assist you with everything from finding your perfect package to helping you plan lots of special touches to make your visit truly magical. Best of all my services are absolutely FREE. Get in touch at 1.800.801.4025 via email at mroden@mickeytravels.com or follow along on Facebook